Latest posts
SIB Reports: Falcons being used to discourage neighborhood birds
Everyone with bird feeders at sometime complains about certain birds that seem to keep others away from the feeders. The flurry of birds can be a nuisance for residents living near the Bees Ferry Landfill. Their squawks dominate the soundscape. They fly over the neighborhood in droves, perch on homes, defecate on cars and drop…
SIB “Bird of the week”-Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed cowbirds are found in grasslands, woodland edges and residential areas. They are native to North America. They will roost along with blackbirds numbering in large amounts. It is a stocky blackbird with brown head. Smaller and shorter tale than a blackbird. The females are unmarked brown with faint streaks on the breast and pale throats.…
Childhood Bird Memories
What are your first memories of birds and did those early memories shape your life in more ways than you know? In an article entitled “Autoethnographic Art and Essay: Ode to Bygone Birds of Childhood, Part 1-Drawings” from The AutoEthnographer- A Literary and Arts Magazine, illustrator Terry Graff tells of his childhood and his father’s…
SIB “Birds of the Week” – Marsh Sparrows (Seaside, Saltmarsh & Nelson’s)
Seaside Sparrow – Ammodramus maritimus – L: 6″ WS: 7.5″ Wt: 0.81ozSaltmarsh Sparrow – Ammodramus caudacutus – L: 5.25″ WS: 7″ Wt: 0.67ozNelson’s Sparrow – Ammodramus nelsoni – L: 5″ WS: 7″ Wt: 0.6oz When I sat down to write this article, I began to think “why did I choose to write about these birds???” They are elusive, secretive, up/down,…
The Majestic White Pelican: Our Huge and Graceful Visitors
When we think of pelicans along South Carolina’s coastline, the iconic Brown Pelican often comes to mind, gracefully diving headfirst into the ocean to catch fish. But over the last few years, an equally remarkable cousin—the American White Pelican—has been making its presence known more frequently in the skies and on the shores around Seabrook…
SIB Explores: Eastern Bird Banding Association Annual Meeting – Kiawah Island
Aaron Given wanted to pass along this potential opportunity for members of Seabrook Island Birders who might be interested. The Eastern Bird Banding Association’s annual meeting will be held on Feb 28-Mar 2, 2025 at Kiawah Island. “We are finalizing our speaker schedule but we’ll have a great line-up of speakers, many of which will…
“Remote” Birding
When most people think about the hobby of bird watching, they probably envision walks in the woods, beach and parks. Some people enjoy birding by bike, golf cart or low-speed vehicles (LSV). You might even know about locations you can drive and bird. For example, here in the Charleston County area, options include a drive…
Did you know: Covert Feathers
A covert feather is one of a set of feathers which cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail and protect important flight feathers. You can see them inside the red outline on the photo of a Northern Mockingbird that was banded during our Fall Migration Station. Since most…
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! To kick-start this holiday, we thought you might be interested in a little light-hearted, turkey trivia. Did you know that Wild Turkeys are found in every state in the US, except one? Can you guess which one? If you guessed Hawaii, because that’s the most obvious answer, you would unfortunately be wrong!…
Gift Ideas for Birders
Finding the right gift is often a challenge, but if your gift list includes a birder, we can help! Did you know birdwatching is the fastest growing hobby in the United States? According to USDA.gov, “birding ranks as the fastest-growing single outdoor activity, even surpassing gardening, with 70.4 million people who report some level of involvement…
